The Opelousas courier., 1887-04-23

4 law HI 1iLL1LC DSI #SAS
the lady secretly, though not a trace
the hard work he had undergone escape
her; the gentleman openly. He was Il
first to speak:
ut is long since We met, Miss eli
ford"
"Not since we were together at Lane
ley she replied, softly.
"Yes, when the diamonds were stolel
| wonder if that business will ever /
cleared up?!"
Just then dinner was announced, an
the guests filed down in solemn proce
sion. Although Colonel LIE Marchant e.
corted Miss Clifford, her attention was {
first claimed by her other neighbors. BIZ
when the conversation had become suff
GENTLY animated to all private ~converss
ton, Colonel lie Marchant turned towar
her and their eyes met.
! ssWhat a wretched time that was,' h
said softly.
eat Langley, do you mean2 Yes, in
deed it was. But was it not curious no,
they found those diamends?n
Found them you don't say SOL" h
cACia1iiISus aSClly 6ASus Nv tci
me, please, Miss Clifford. You see,
only came home a few days ago and hav
heard nothing
"Oh! it is nearly a year since. 81
James was out fishing with one of tn
boys, when his line got entangled in thu
branches of an old tree which had falle1
into the river at some time. In Olsen
tangling it they saw something wedgec
i'll against the trunk of the tree which.
after a little trouble, they fished out. Il
proved to be the identical case in which
Lady Langley kept her diamonds, and
when it was forced open there they were
safe enough, and reports which appeared
later declared that the box must have lain
there ever since the night of the robbery.
The theory is that whoever stole it must
have hidden it in the river bank, meaning
to fetch it when the fuss had blown over,
but hat the current had swept it away,
till the tree stopped it.
Curious" said Colonel LIE Marchant,
Eyes, is it not?" she forced herself to
quietly, for the strange expression
on her companions face troubled her,
she scarcely knew why. II suppose there
can be no doubt that it was some of the
servants; though, after such a lapse of
time, it would be hopeless to try and
bring it home to any one"
LIE Marchant looked at her sharply, and
was just going to speak, when their host
interrupted him with some question
about the Soudan, and the conversation
became general till the ladies retired.
Miss Clifford had sheltered herself in
the drawing-room behind a large port
folio of rare prints to think undisturbed
over her unexpected meeting with her
old lover, when the subject of her
thoughts quietly came up and took a seat
beside her.
Il cannot tell you how glad I am that
hose diamonds have been recovered he
so am L. she answered. ado you
know, l feel as if | were a ~clairvoyante or
something of the sort, for ever since the
'obbery, whenever / have been at all I'M
veil, my nightmare has been about those
diamonds and the river. Ihear the rush
ng of the waters quite plainly" she went
IN dreamily, unconsciously dropping into
he old tone her companion remembered
0 well. Il wonder why it is"
II suppose it is because you really hid
he diamonds under the bank of Langley
was the startling answer.
Il hid the diamonds. What on earth
10 you mean2 You must be mad, Col
mel LIE Marchant!"
mo, | am not. Isaw you do it," he
quietly.
"You saw me do it! Then why to
GOODNESS did you not say SO at the
because | was mad then, Cecil, and
lade a horrible mistake"
"You thought / stole the diamonds2n
He was silent.
Then that was why you were so keen
bout that poor little lady's maid?n
He nodded.
".You belieyed-oh-and were trying
screen me all the time!!"
'sForgive me, Cecil"
but do you mean that you actually
w me take the diamonds" she asked
OuuGi lCdSG IGiI Hit -
Colonel LIE Marchant stopped over the
ook of prints Miss Clifford was ostensi-
y examining, and answered in a low
oice: Il had sat up late in the smoking
,om, worrying over some money
oubles, when, startled to find how late
was, | was retrating as silently IS |
'uld to my quarters. As | was passing
ong the bedroom passage | suddenly
W you in your dressing-gown come out
Lady Iangley's DON carrying q tin
*. ~Instinctively | drew back behind
curtain of the staircase window, and
~ walked by without noticing me. /
flowed you softly. You went to that
tile side door in the garden by the
'awing-room, about which young Lovat
ID chafed Langley so much, unfast-
led it, and went out right across the
toward the river. Then to my hor-
+ you went over the bank till I felt GER
in you would slip in, and | was Just
up to catch you when YOU
rambled back-without the box! You
turned as you came, by the little door
which | followed YOU, and re-
lined your 0 | was too utterly
ken aback to speak to you, for the idea
at you were sleep-walking never struck
G till just now. Next morning when
e robbery was discovered, / reInern-
red the box you had carried; and thea
e recollection of the tin case yoT ssd
Idy Langley had spoken Of the Fre-
ous night flashed across my mind.n
but did you EVE go to look ut the
I
YES, that very day; but though l felt
rtain that | was on the exact spot, |
uld find nothing. This confirmed my
that you had an accomplice,
watched youclosely enought to know
1t you had not again visited the river |